For the 2025 school year, there are 15 public preschools serving 4,935 students in Burke County, NC.
The top ranked public preschools in Burke County, NC are Icard Elementary School, Salem Elementary School and Drexel Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Burke County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Burke County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Burke County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Icard Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3087 Icard School Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-3491
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 397-3491
Grades: PK-5
| 252 students
Rank: #22.
Salem Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1329 Salem Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5901
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5901
Grades: PK-5
| 436 students
Rank: #33.
Drexel Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
100 Alta Vista Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3160
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3160
Grades: PK-5
| 478 students
Rank: #44.
Mull Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1140 Old Nc 18 South
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5785
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5785
Grades: PK-5
| 280 students
Rank: #55.
Glen Alpine Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
302 London Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0661
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0661
Grades: PK-5
| 305 students
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
George Hildebrand Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8078 G Hildebrand Sch Road
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 879-9595
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 879-9595
Grades: PK-5
| 328 students
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
W A Young Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
325 Conley Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0632
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 584-0632
Grades: PK-5
| 293 students
Rank: #88.
Valdese Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
298 Praley Street
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0704
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 874-0704
Grades: PK-5
| 524 students
Rank: #99.
Hildebran Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
703 Us Hwy 70 West
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-3181
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-3181
Grades: PK-5
| 295 students
Rank: #1010.
Oak Hill Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2363 Nc 181
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1533
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-1533
Grades: PK-5
| 334 students
Rank: #1111.
Forest Hill Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
304 Ann Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5906
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-5906
Grades: PK-5
| 291 students
Rank: #1212.
Mountain View Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
805 Bouchelle St
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1584
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-1584
Grades: PK-5
| 730 students
Rank: #1313.
Hillcrest Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
201 Tennessee Street
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-4258
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-4258
Grades: PK-5
| 258 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Nc School For The Deaf
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
517 W Fleming Dr
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 432-5388
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 432-5388
Grades: PK-12
| 60 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
North Liberty
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
523 Enola Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-9656
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-9656
Grades: PK-12
| 71 students
Burke County 51±¬ÁÏs (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
2142 Pax Hill Road
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3026
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-3026
Grades: PK-5
| 190 students
East Alps (Closed 2011)
Alternative School
213 1st St
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-6175
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-6175
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Enola School Unit 24
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-2092
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-2092
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
300 Enola Rd
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-2661
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 433-2661
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
205 South Main St
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Grades: 3-5
| n/a students
300 Enola Rd
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 438-6586
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 438-6586
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
170 Honeycutt Drive
Rutherford College, NC 28671
(828) 879-8870
Rutherford College, NC 28671
(828) 879-8870
Grades: PK-5
| 209 students
Wtn Nc School For The Deaf (Closed 2013)
Special Education School
517 West Fleming Dr
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 432-5200
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 432-5200
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Burke County, NC?
The top ranked public preschools in Burke County, NC include Icard Elementary School, Salem Elementary School and Drexel Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Burke County?
15 public preschools are located in Burke County.
What is the racial composition of students in Burke County?
Burke County public preschools minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Burke County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Burke County include: Hillcrest Elementary School vs. Forest Hill Elementary School, Glen Alpine Elementary School vs. W A Young Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School vs. Mull Elementary School
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
